Sofia Karlsson grew up in Enskede, Stockholm. She attended the Folk music dept. of the Royal College of Music in Stockholm. Between 1998 and 2002 she was a full time member in Swedish folk music act Groupa. In 2002 she released her debut solo album “Folk songs”.
In 2005 she made her public breakthrough with her second album “Svarta ballader” (Black ballads). The album contains her interpretations of the Swedish poet Dan Andersson. The album was in the charts for more than a year and has to date sold 60.000 copies and was rewarded with a Swedish as well as a Danish Grammy.
After touring Sweden for two years she released her third album “Visor från vinden” (Songs from the loft) with its collection of classical songs sung in Swedish but written by poets and musicians such as Baudelaire, Dan Andersson, Fred Åkerström, Peps Persson, Carl Michael Bellman and Evert Taube. The album also contains Karlsson's own version of Boris Vian's The Deserter.
Jag Väntar...
Sofia Karlsson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
medan stjärnorna vandra och nätterna gå.
Jag väntar på en kvinna från färdvägar vida -
den käraste, den käraste med ögon blå.
Jag tänkt mig en vandrande snöhöljd blomma
och drömde om ett skälvande, gäckande skratt,
jag trodde jag såg den mest älskade komma
Glatt ville jag min drömda på händerna bära
genom snåren dit bort där min koja står,
och höja ett jublande rop mot den kära:
Välkommen du, som väntats i ensamma år!
Jag väntar vid min mila medan timmarna lida
medan skogarna sjunga och skyarna gå.
Jag väntar på en vandrerska från färdvägar vida -
den käraste, den käraste med ögon blå.
In "Jag Väntar" by Sofia Karlsson, the singer describes waiting for a woman with blue eyes, who is traveling from far away. The setting is a lonely, snowy night where stars and time pass by. The singer dreams of this woman as a beautiful, wandering flower hidden by the snow. He imagines her arriving in a flurry over the hills and through the woods. The singer describes how he would joyfully carry her in his arms and welcome her to his home, where they could finally be together after years of waiting.
The song is full of longing and anticipation, as the singer's wait seems both endless and unstoppable. The snow, stars, and night are all symbols that convey the singer's feeling of loneliness and his desire to be reunited with his beloved. Waiting is a theme that dominates the lyrics, as it is repeated numerous times throughout the song. The desire for companionship and a sense of belonging is also a clear message in the song, as the singer imagines the happiness he would feel with the woman he has been waiting for.
Line by Line Meaning
Jag väntar vid min stockeld medan timmarna skrida,
I wait by my campfire as the hours pass by,
medan stjärnorna vandra och nätterna gå.
while the stars wander and the nights go by.
Jag väntar på en kvinna från färdvägar vida -
I wait for a woman from far-off roads -
den käraste, den käraste med ögon blå.
the dearest, the dearest with blue eyes.
Jag tänkt mig en vandrande snöhöljd blomma
I imagined a wandering snow-covered flower
och drömde om ett skälvande, gäckande skratt,
and dreamed of a trembling, teasing laughter,
jag trodde jag såg den mest älskade komma
I thought I saw the most beloved coming
genom skogen, över hedarna en snötung natt.
through the forest, over the moors on a snow-heavy night.
Glatt ville jag min drömda på händerna bära
Joyfully I wanted to carry my dreamed one in my arms
genom snåren dit bort där min koja står,
through the thickets over there where my cabin is,
och höja ett jublande rop mot den kära:
and raise a cheering call to the beloved:
Välkommen du, som väntats i ensamma år!
Welcome, you who have been waited for in lonely years!
Jag väntar vid min mila medan timmarna lida
I wait by my fire pit as the hours pass by
medan skogarna sjunga och skyarna gå.
while the forests sing and the clouds go by.
Jag väntar på en vandrerska från färdvägar vida -
I wait for a female traveler from faraway roads -
den käraste, den käraste med ögon blå.
the dearest, the dearest with blue eyes.
Contributed by Ellie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.